The Detroit Red Wings are keeping Patrick Kane away from unrestricted free agency, bringing him back on a one-year contract.
Patrick Kane isn't heading back to the free agent market, signing a one-year deal to remain with the Detroit Red Wings.
The Red Wings announced the deal Sunday night, right before he would have become a UFA on July 1 for the second summer in a row. Instead, he's sticking with the squad that signed him midway through the 2023-24 season as he finished recovering from off-season hip resurfacing surgery.
His new contract has a $4-million cap hit, $2.5 million in performance bonuses and a no-trade clause.
Kane made his season debut on Dec. 7 and played 50 games, recording 20 goals and 27 assists for 47 points. He also scored seven game-winning goals, the most for him since 2018-19 with the Chicago Blackhawks and the most for Detroit.
The 35-year-old was in his 17th NHL season and first away from the Chicago Blackhawks, which drafted him first overall in 2007. The Hawks traded him to the New York Rangers before the trade deadline in 2022-23.
The Rangers were interested in reuniting with Kane, according to the New York Post's Larry Brooks. But on Saturday, Brooks reported Kane was still talking with the Red Wings about an extension.
Kane already has 1,230 career games played, with 471 goals and 813 assists. The Buffalo native's 1,284 points are the third-most by an American in NHL history. He won the Calder Trophy in 2007-08 and the Art Ross Trophy, Ted Lindsay Award and Hart Trophy in 2015-16.
In the playoffs, Kane has 53 goals, 85 assists and 138 points in 143 games. He captured the Stanley Cup with Chicago in 2010, 2013 and 2015, adding a Conn Smythe Trophy in his second championship.
The Red Wings finished the 2023-24 season tied in points with the Washington Capitals with one more win, but the Caps had the tiebreaker in regulation wins to clinch the Eastern Conference's second wild-card spot. Keeping Kane will be part of their attempt to end their eight-year playoff drought.
Detroit has about $27.87 million in cap space, but the team has three RFAs, with Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider expected to get big raises on their entry-level contracts. The Wings also have five pending UFAs set to hit the open market at noon ET on Monday, including David Perron and Shayne Gostisbehere.
For more reaction to the contract, check out The Hockey News' Detroit Red Wings site.
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